Northwestern Directions in Safety2015 Annual Report

2

Northwestern Directions in Safety

33

Mission Statement

The Office for Research Safety (ORS) adds value to the extraordinary teaching and research science of Northwestern

University through its commitment to high standards and support services. ORS fulfills its commitment by system-

atically identifying hazards and controlling risks in the protection of individuals, public health and the environment.

With guidance from University compliance committees, ORS provides the management and operational support for

laboratory health and safety.

Finding reasonable and effective solutions to everyday health and safety problems—while striving to be consistent

and helpful in all our activities—is an important priority for ORS. To renew and strengthen ORS for the future, we

value the importance of education, training, certification, scholarship and involvement in our professional societies.

Chicago & Evanston

Office for Research Safety

Michael Bryan Blayney, PhDExecutive DirectorPhone: (847) 491-5581michael.blayney@northwestern.edu

Ward Building, Room B-106303 East Chicago Ave.Chicago, IL 60611(312) 503-8300, Fax: (312) 503-0547

Technological Institute, Room NG-712145 Sheridan RoadEvanston, IL 60208(847) 491-5581, Fax: (847) 467-2797

Extraordinary Science Done Safely

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Introduction

5

This report documents the redevelopment of the Office for Research Safety (ORS) at Northwestern University from the fall of 2012

until the end of 2015. It highlights many of the important changes that have occurred to improve services, raise safety standards,

create new training and anticipate the future needs of science at Northwestern. In three years, ORS underwent major changes in

organization, focus and services largely centered on a major effort to identify and remove historical, legacy wastes while setting

higher standards for laboratory safety and hygiene.

As 2016 begins, ORS enters a new phase—looking beyond what we called the “Great Clean-Up”—toward realizing the capabilities

of a new learning management system we call Learn@Northwestern and improving our oversight and business processes.

Our remarkable transformation is due in no small part to the willingness of the institution to change, the hard work of those

mentioned in this report and the remarkable faculty, staff and students we serve.

From the small, everyday details we attend to (like container labels and clean lab coats) to the nuanced development of high

quality training materials and qualified emergency response—ORS is fully committed to the goal of ensuring that extraordinary

science is done safely.

“Northwestern is committed to excellent teaching, innovative

research and the personal and intellectual growth of its

students in a diverse academic community.”

— Northwestern’s Mission

With an internationally recognized medical school and multiple allied programs in the life sciences, biological safety (Biosafety) is a significant part of the ORS portfolio at Northwestern. With so many of our scientists involved in the biomedical and biotechnology sciences (often interdisciplinary), Biosafety is important ORS responsibility on both campuses. The Biosafety program at Northwestern must keep up with a myriad of rules and regulations from the NIH, CDC, DHS, OSHA, State and Local agencies.

Our Biosafety program encompasses Risk Group One, Two and Three agents, including recombinant and non-recombinant organisms, human blood and body fluids and tissues. The Biosafety program is also responsible for overseeing the management and disposal of biological waste on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.

In keeping with the redevelopment of ORS, our Biosafety Program underwent a “blue-ribbon” peer review (Summer, 2014), added highly qualified staff, developed new training courses and revised existing compliance programs. These important efforts are preparing us for the continued growth in the Feinberg School of Medicine. Our capable Biosafety staff includes two PhD scientists and a research trained DVM. Looking ahead, we are well positioned for the future.

In 2016 and 2017, our Biosafety program will begin a renewal cycle of activities to strengthen our Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBC), further develop our close relation with the Animal Care programs and integrate with research programs of the Lurie Children’s Hospital. It is an exciting time in the biomedical and life sciences and we look forward to continuing to serve, and improve how we serve, our faculty, staff and students.

Biological Safety

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Biological Safety

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BioSafety Quick Facts

RECOMBINANT DNA PIs 300HUMAN GENE TRANSFER PIs 13BSL1, 2, & 3 PIs 330BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS PIs 2502015 BIOWASTE (LBS.) 150,000IBC REGISTRATIONS APPROVED 200Numbers for both campuses

Biological Safety (continued)

Campus Quick FactsACTIVE PIs

ACTIVE LAB WORkERS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

POST DOCS, OTHER FACULTy & VISITING SCHOLARS

STAFF

UNDERGRADUATE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RESEARCHERS

5403700

Numbers for both campuses

1200

1000

1000

500

8The Laboratory of Professor ken Poeppelmeier

Laboratory (Chemical) Safety

The periodic inspection research laboratories and support spaces is a core function of the Office for Research Safety. The inspection process is essentially continuous on both campuses thanks to the work of our dedicated Laboratory Safety Specialists. Depending on the type of science and the hazards present, the frequency of inspection can be as often as every six months, typically once a year, or in some cases longer, if appropriate.

Physical hazards (electrical, thermal, pressure, clutter, etc.) are ubiquitous in all but the most benign laboratory environments. An effective laboratory safety program looks for the obvious (and not so obvious) physical hazards. At first glance, good housekeeping and facility maintenance are reliable indicators of well-controlled physical hazards and manageable risks. As we have improved our services, we have also raised our standards for laboratory housekeeping.

The use of chemicals is an important part of the teaching and research activities in laboratories on both campuses. Chemicals that pose poten-tial risks to individuals, public health and the environment are considered hazardous and subject to significant regulation and costly disposal. Taken together, identifying chemical and physical hazards and controlling their associated risks are the foundation of laboratory safety. The presence of biological and/or radiological hazards adds additional elements to the oversight process (discussed separately in this report).

The Northwestern Direction emphasizes a “back-to-basics” approach. To achieve this goal, ORS coordinates the laboratory inspection process with allied services. Today we offer more convenient ways to recycle unwanted equipment, schedule industrial cleaning services, offer easy to obtain safety supplies and a completely revamped hazardous waste program. The collec-tive change is evident on both campuses—cleaner labs, reclaimed space, improved safety practice, higher training rates and better services for our faculty, staff and students.

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Aftermath of a pressure vessel explosion

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11Nick Waddell, Senior Laboratory Safety Specialist (l) and Markus Schaufele, Director, ORS Evanston (r) prepare to inspect potential reactive containers.

What Matters MostEvery day, ORS has the opportunity to help facilitate Extraordinary Science Done Safely in small ways (picking up a clean lab coat or container labels) to large ways (the safety education of future scientists or helping in the design of tomorrow’s research buildings). In all cases, what matters most is a willingness to ask and deliver on a simple question—“What can we do to help?”

Training Plays an Essential RoleAcademic science is somewhat different from other research environments (industrial or governmental) insofar as we welcome, train and prepare students and postdoctoral fellows in a continuous two to five year cycle. Each year we welcome (and say goodbye) to approximately 20-30% of our clients —making training and education a vital part of how we create and sustain an evolving culture of safety at Northwestern University.

Over the past three years, we have developed and produced a number of short subject videos and e-learning programs using common media development tools. This “proof-of-concept” approach is only the beginning of a much more sophisticated future made possible by the Learn@Northwestern system (described in detail elsewhere in this report).

Over the next two years, the addition of creative staff and the opportunity to allow interested, talented staff across the Office for Research access to the knowledge, skills and tools needed to create new media will undoubtedly create an environment rich in the potential for lasting change and added value to science. We welcome this next step.

Q. Jane Wang, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (l) and Jian Cao, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & AVP for Research (r) in the lab.

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Campus Quick Facts

RAM PIs

LAB AREAS

X-RAy PIs

RAM WORkERS(includes Unit L & Unit H)

X-RAy WORkERS

LASER PIs

CLASS IIIB & IV LASERS

LASER WORkERS

64

13388

Numbers for both campuses

163

270101

>400431

Health Physics Services

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The safe use of radioactive materials in teaching and research is based on

a long-established set of principles, rules and regulations. Decades ago,

stand-alone programs in Universities called “Radiation Safety” only focused

on ionizing radiation. With changes in science and technology over the last

twenty years, successful radiation safety programs elsewhere have evolved

into a broader range of activities. At Northwestern, we are working to

meet the needs of science today by the creation of a comprehensive

“Health Physics Services” (HPS) program.

HPS is responsible for the safe use of ionizing and non-ionization radiation

in its many forms—including sealed and unsealed isotopes, x-ray equipment,

and high-energy lasers. No longer a stand-alone program, HPS works in

cooperation with the biological safety, laboratory safety and hazardous

waste programs in ORS. HPS is undergoing the same transformation as

other ORS programs—third party audits, removing historical waste, new

staff, staff training and improved services.

For our clients, the most noticeable improvements in HPS will appear in

2016-2017—reflecting further refinements in HPS services already in place

or under development.

Like other ORS programs, updated and improved training is an important

goal for HPS. New short subject videos on important topics are already

giving HPS a fresh look—with entire new courses already in development

or planned for the future. A new radiation safety “Basics” course will be

available in the first half of 2016.

As HPS looks toward the future, documenting the historical use of

radioactive materials in our teaching and research areas is also an

important goal. HPS is developing the requisite knowledge and skills,

along with specialized instrumentation, to document the impact of past

practice on our buildings. This information will be valuable to Northwestern

University for decades to come.

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Hazardous Waste Management

Northwestern University fundamentally changed its hazardous waste program in October 2012. Today, Clean Harbors Environmental Services provides well-qualified personnel, waste pick up, processing and disposal. For both campuses, their “Insight” program at Northwestern manages all forms of regulated waste — biological, chemical and radiological.

We also help facilitate the proper recycling of unwanted scientific equipment. In the near future, our Clean Harbors staff will have achieved their corporate “Best in Class” certification.

Hazardous Waste Services (HWS) in the Office for Research Safety (ORS) provides training in waste management, especially minimization, supplies (containers, absorbents & labels) and spill response.

HWS is committed to energy recovery (fuels blending) from our solvent waste streams and using “Best Available” disposal methods. Our program also provides industrial cleaning of laboratory fume hoods and cold rooms.

Today, we pick up and dispose of nearly twice as much regulated waste than before October 2012. After the “Great Clean-Up” that ended in August, 2015, we generate, collect and dispose of regulated waste over shorter periods of time, what we call our “New Normal” and a sign of an effective program.

HWS in ORS welcomes visitors—simply schedule a time.

HWS always welcomes waste management questions, comments and ideas.

Hemang RanaInSite Program Manager; Clean Harbors Environmental

Michael B. Blayney, PhDExecutive Director, ORS; Clean Harbors Project Manager, HWS

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FY 2015 Hazardous Waste : Type/Campus

Agarose  Gel  with  EtBr  6%  

BaCeries  &  Bulbs  1%  

Bulked  Flammable/Corrosives  

5%  Bulked  Non-­‐Hazardous  

5%  

Contaminated  Lab  Debris/

Sharps/Glass/Vials  6%  

Labpacks  17%  

Non-­‐Hazardous  Waste  10%  

Oil  0%  

Other  0%  

Paint  Waste  1%  

Photo  Fixer  &  Developer  

25%  

Solvent  Waste  24%  

Chicago  (29.5  tons)  Agarose  Gel  with  

EtBr  1%  

BaCeries  &  Bulbs  1%  

Bulked  Flammable/Corrosives  

7%  

Bulked  Non-­‐Hazardous  

5%  

Contaminated  Lab  Debris/

Sharps/Glass/Vials  18%  

Equipment  Disposal  

2%  Labpacks  18%  

Non-­‐Hazardous  Waste  3%  

Oil  4%  

Other  3%  

Paint  Waste  0%  

Photo  Fixer  &  Developer  

1%  

Solvent  Waste  37%  

Evanston  (69  tons)  EvaNStoN (69 tons) ChiCago (29.5 tons)

FY 2015 Hazardous Waste: Type/Campus1%

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Embracing  the  New  Normal    (40-­‐50%  more  throughput)  

0  

5,000  

10,000  

15,000  

20,000  

25,000  

30,000  

35,000  

40,000  

45,000  

50,000  

2012  Q1  2012  Q2  2012  Q3  2012  Q4  2013  Q1  2013  Q2  2013  Q3  2013  Q4  2014  Q1  2014  Q2  2014  Q3  2014  Q4  2015  Q1  2015  Q2  2015  Q3  

Poun

ds  

Hazardous  Chemical  Waste  Disposal  

Chicago   Evanston  

r2 =.22085!

r2 =.23502 !

r  =  0    -­‐or-­‐  approximately  39,000  lbs./  quarter    

Embracing the New Normal

2012 2013 2014 2015

Emergency Response Training

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Preparing for emergencies is an essential part of our work in ORS. It is also the basis of a critical relationship with our local communities. Working closely with University Police, ORS renewed its commitment in planning for the unexpected in our teaching and research laboratories in the fall of 2012. By last summer, we were ready to test our skills.

Time spent planning and training reduces the stress and potential confusion that inevitably occurs during the incipient phase of an actual emergency. Training with our local first responders also helps foster the trust, confidence and friendships that come from working together.

While it may seem counterintuitive, emergency response training actually strengthens safety and prevention efforts at Northwestern. Focusing on what may go wrong during training improves our prevention efforts, day-to-day.

In July of 2015, ORS, University Police, the Evanston Fire Department and hazardous materials technicians from the North Shore planned and carried out a comprehensive set of exercises over three days. Each day featured a different scenario that could potentially occur in a Northwestern laboratory. Each scenario had an emergency medical services component and a hazardous materials response element.

With the success of our 2015 drill, we are planning for the summer of 2016. For a look at some of the excitement last summer and our thanks to everyone involved, please visit https://vimeo.com/nuors

katie kollhoff, Safety Engineer

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Shaun Johnson (l) Police Commander and Michael Blayney (r), Executive Director for Research Safety

Brett Berg (r) Health and Safety Specialist

Nicholas Waddell (l), Senior Laboratory Safety Specialist

ORS Training Services

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NEW CoURSESAdded since 2013

• Biological Safety

• Bloodborne Pathogens for CCM Workers

• Bloodborne Pathogens for Non-Research Workers

• Filling and Maintenance of Liquid Nitrogen Tanks

• Hydrofluoric Acid and Fluoride Ion Hazards

• Laboratory Reactor Pressure Vessels

• Respiratory Protection: APR

• Respiratory Protection: N95

• Respiratory Protection: PAPR

• Respiratory Protection: SCBA

• Working with Recombinant DNA

Training and education play a vital role in research safety at Northwestern University. Simply stated, it is the key to sustaining our gains and preparing for the future. If we do not develop new offerings for our current (and future) faculty, staff and students, then all that we achieved between the fall of 2012 and 2015 becomes a lost opportunity. To guard against this, we placed a high priority on expanding and improving our ability to produce training materials from the beginning. In addition, the completion of training is now an important element in the evolving laboratory safety review process.

Our approach in creating new material has two mutually reinforcing goals. First, to provide concise instruction, stated in behavioral terms, on our research safety program. The second goal is to impart health and safety knowledge that is useful in new situations and can remain relevant over a working lifetime. The first goal requires high quality training that is regularly updated. The second goal reflects the value of education—developing the knowledge, skills and abilities that can be applied at Northwestern today or elsewhere tomorrow.

In September of 2015, Northwestern University completed the implementation of powerful new learning management system (LMS) known as “Learn@North-western”. This cloud-based LMS system, tied to the key identity management systems of the University, has opened tremendous possibilities for the future. In 2016, ORS will continue to support our colleagues in the Office for Research in the further deployment of this system and more broadly with our colleagues in Human Resources to realize the potential of the system, campus-wide.

ORS Training Services

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New Safety training Modules

2013NUFAB Cleanroom ProceduresFilling and maintenance of liquid nitrogen tanks

2014HF and Fluoride Ion Hazards

2015Lab Reactor Pressure Vessels

The size of the research population needing safety training continues to grow.

Our biggest project involved the transition from Blackboard to the University’s new learning management system, Learn@Northwestern. This transition involved reformatting existing online courses, building the certifications, courses and classes in the new system and extensive user testing prior to launch.

In early 2015 we began

using Vimeo to host safety

training videos. These

videos are available

through our training

courses and on our ORS

website. We currently have

39 videos available; our

videos have been loaded

4593 times since January.

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Excellence in Higher Education Safety Training{Safety-Consortium.org}

The Safety Training Consortium is a higher education membership organization founded by research universities, for the purpose of developing safety training for the research community. The consortium operates under the auspices and confines of the University of California’s Center for Laboratory Safety.

As an academic group, we are driven by educational achievement and not profit. We enable metrics to evaluate our courses and provide institutional tracking. Stakeholders joining the Consortium include universities and colleges as well as industries with research interest across the country.

The mission of the Safety Training Consortium is to improve researcher safety by developing high quality, engaging and cross-certifiable safety training for the research community.

Creation of the Safety Training Consortium

Online training modules are designed by System and Contributing Consortium members. Courses are owned by the Consortium. All members will have access to the entire course library and will benefit from regular updates based on customer feedback and regulatory changes.

Areas with currently available courses include: • Laboratory Safety • Chemical Safety • Biological Safety • Radiation Safety

CuRRent MeMbeRs:

California state university (22 campuses) | emory university

new Mexico state university | northwestern university

Princeton university | university of California (10 campuses)

university of Pittsburgh | Washington university at st. Louis | Wellesley College

Michael B. Blayney, PhDFounding Chair of the Board

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oRS, EvaNStoN

Brett Berg is completing his MPH degree in Environmental

& Occupational Health Sciences at UIC

Cindi Mason played a critical role in the implementation of Learn@

Northwestern

gwen Sullivan is a graduate of North Park University and future

graduate student

iwona Spath is preparing to take the Certified Biological Safety

Professional examination

Katie Kollhoff completed the Professional Engineer examination

Markus Schaufele was appointed Director, ORS Evanston

Nick Waddell completed the Certified Safety Professional examination

Wendy Ward played a vital role in helping to rebuild our business model

anna Stasek is a graduate of the University of Michigan (BFA) and recently

joined us as an instructional designer

We said farewell to Steve Karlman who, after 25+ years of dedicated

service to ORS, left Chicago to join his family in California. Steve also

played a critical role in the implementation of Learn@Northwestern.

oRS, ChiCago

andrea hall, PhD was appointed the Director of ORS, Chicago

angelica gheen received her Master’s Degree in Health Physics from

Oregon State University

Jose Macatangay was appointed Radiation Safety Officer

Joe Princewill celebrated 25 + years of service to Northwestern

Lauren Jones is a graduate of the U of Illinois and future graduate student

Lucy galindo has started her graduate studies in Public Health

Luis Samaniego completed the Associate Safety Professional examination

and is preparing to complete the Certified Safety Professional examination

Marina Zelivyanskaya, DvM received a MS degree in Regulatory Science from

NU & was appointed a Research Assistant Professor in Pathology, FSM

Reginald Blythe was appointed the Assistant Director of ORS, Chicago

Robert Foreman, PhD was appointed Associate Biological Safety Officer

tJ Whittenhall was appointed Laser Safety Officer

Staff Accomplishments2012 - 2015+

Dr. Robert Forman

Dr. Andrea Hall

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Office for Research Safety

Ward Building, Room B-106303 East Chicago Ave.Chicago, IL 60611(312) 503-8300, Fax: (312) 503-0547 Technological Institute, Room NG-71

2145 Sheridan RoadEvanston, IL 60208(847) 491-5581, Fax: (847) 467-2797

Published March, 2016© Northwestern University

www.research.northwestern.edu/ors/